I have a big family, seven children ranging in age from 34 to 47, whom I raised in Houston after I moved from McAllen after the youngest was born. From them, I have 23 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren from six years to four weeks old. I love seeing them grow and grow up, which is only possible by me taking care of me. Their worry turned to support for my working out and eating healthier. To that I am grateful.

After the doctor’s news, I started medications right away and began exercising in classes at the YMCA. Starting to lose weight, I was inspired to enroll in more of the aerobics and fitness classes. The weight began coming off at a rate of about 15 pounds every three months.

My family supported me as I began taking care of myself. The weight loss inspired me, boosted my self-confidence and allowed me to be happy with myself. I workout at the gym five days per week, Monday through Friday. Lots of days, I take up to five classes and train on my own. I enrolled in daily aerobics classes, Cardio Sculpt classes three times a week, and workout on the machines in the gym. On average, I workout about five hours per day.

My eating habits have changed to meet my new nutritional needs and desires. I started eating healthier, cutting back on sugars and salts. To my surprise, I have been able to get off the medications and manage my health with exercise and diet. What a great feeling! After continuing this for the last 10 months, my cholesterol is better, I do not have to take any medication for the diabetes and it is easier to manage the high blood pressure. Having the structure and support of going to classes at a gym like the YMCA is so beneficial. All the instructors are motivating, they want me to succeed and are as happy in what I accomplish as I am. They teach me how to do the exercises right for the maximum benefits and results. Coming to the gym to work together with others is motivating and makes a huge difference. In the end, they are all like my family.

Exercise and the right diet has allowed me to reverse what I thought was normal, predictable and acceptable. I have turned the tables on fat, bad health and medication and am confident that I will be here to see my family continue to grow. They are my inspiration and support me in what I am doing, empowering me to be strong at the gym and work hard to improve my health and fitness.

I am happy and confident in myself knowing I have accomplished what seemed like a big task; one that I didn’t think I could. I did, though, and lost 60 pounds to boot.